NEW ORLEANS - When Channing Frye dislocated his right shoulder March 20, the timeline for the Suns forward to be sidelined was two to three weeks, but he said he wanted to beat the forecast.

He just might. Frye could play Friday night, two days shy of the two-week mark, at home against Golden State if he reacts well to the increased amount and distance of shooting and Thursday's practice contact.

"I am (hopeful about playing Friday) but at the same time we'll see how it is after practice," Frye said. "Shooting, dunking and hook shots, that's fine. But having to bang and hold my ground against 300-pound dudes, that's a whole different story. So we'll see what happens (Thursday) in practice and we'll get going."

Since the injury, Frye has put in hours daily with conditioning work, exercises and therapy to restore the shoulder's range of motion and strength.

Frye shot twice Wednesday, taking the most shots he has (about 200) at the morning shootaround and trying his first 3-pointers in the evening at New Orleans Arena. It was the first day he woke with no soreness from workouts.

"We're getting close," Frye said. "It feels good to come back and have some legs and get ready to help the team.

"I want to make sure I come back and I'm ready. I've got cleared from all the doctors. Whenever it feels good without soreness, the next day I'm pretty good."

Frye had a strong evening session of shooting from long distance but needs a practice session with contact Thursday to gauge how ready he is to play a game.

"It's going to totally be left up to Channing as to how he feels and if he's ready to play," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said.

Mr. ORNG

You probably have seen Patrick Battillo by now. You just might know him better by his fan alter ego, Mr. ORNG.

Battillo has popped up during Suns broadcasts as the fan clad head to toe in orange attire and paint. Steve Nash interviewed him this week and posted it on his Twitter account.

The Mr. ORNG persona began at the end of last season when Battillo attended a Suns playoff game in San Antonio with painted hair and was shown often by ESPN. From there, it has become an investment of time and money, from clothes to his social media to traveling to watch the Suns from the front row in his full regalia in Houston and New Orleans this week.

Battillo, 24, has been a Suns fan since moving to the Valley at age 7 and becomes Mr. ORNG every home game in a section near the Suns bench.

"They're going to expect you to be loud and into it (in all orange)," said Battillo, who works in logistics for Target and is on spring break from his MBA program at Arizona State. "The reaction from fans is what got it going. My goal is to get Phoenix as one of the top three fan experiences in the NBA."

Free throws

Nash was presented with the NBA Tweeter of the Year award Wednesday morning by hoopshype.com.

- Suns center Marcin Gortat will sign autographs Thursday from 5-6 at the Fry's at 43rd Avenue and McDowell Road in Phoenix.

- Frye will sign autographs Thursday from 6-7 at the new Majerle's Sports Grill in Old Town Scottsdale at 4425 N. Saddlebag Trail.